HOPE had its beginnings in the early 1970s when the Rev. Jack Smith, a pastor from the United States, opened a home for 20 street children in Addis Ababa, providing full care, schooling, and skill training. From this beginning, HOPE was established under an Ethiopian board in October, 1971 in Addis Ababa with a mission to provide hope for the needy.

As one of the first local NGOs in Ethiopia, the organization was registered as a humanitarian association on August 13, 1974. From then onwards, HOPE was wrapped up in many efforts of intervention as it responded to the needs of children, youngsters, women, families and others affected by one crisis after another with a number of programs focused on childcare, education, vocational training, preventive and rehabilitative street children’s projects, relief programs for the hungry and for those displaced by an emergency, etc.

With this integrated approach to human development, in 1991, HOPE opened its first branch outside of Addis Ababa in Dessie. Then in 1997, it started operation in Gambella City following a decision to operate in un-reached areas during its twenty-fifth anniversary. In December 2003 it opened another operation in Assosa, Benishangul Gumuz State. In September 2004, it started operations in Ormomia State in two rural villages called Hirara and Roggie. Based on analysis of needs, HOPE expanded its programs to the college level with the December 2003 decision to build HOPE University College.

In the future, based on needs and resources, HOPE plans to further expand its scope by replicating its successful Ladders of HOPE programs to additional needy areas in Ethiopia.